Disney vs other Lines???

[hollyberry16]

Hi, I'm new here from ivillage. (sorry if this has been discussed a million times)
So I love disney and went to Disney World in Jan (had a great time).
I have never been on a cruise.
Disney Cruises are super expensive, and it doesn't seem like a lot is included compared to the other lines: Carnival, Princess, Norwiegian etc...
So I'm wondering what makes disney cruise lines that much better that they are almost 2 or 3 times more expensive?

thanks

 

[stampinshauna]

First, WELCOME TO THE DISBOARDS. You'll find a ton of great information from wonderful fellow DISERS

it doesn't seem like a lot is included compared to the other lines: Carnival, Princess, Norwiegian etc...

What have you found that isn't included on Disney vs the others? It seems to me that Disney includes the same things if not more than the other cruise lines. I've only been on Princess and Disney, so I can't compare the others. Princess charges for all soft drinks and soft-serve ice cream. These are free on Disney. Disney also seemed to have a lot more (and much better quality entertainment). If you have kids, Disney has great kids programming throughout the day where some other lines only have it at certain times. Check out this thread to see more reasons why I prefer Disney over Princess. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1114713

I'm sure you'll get a lot of great responses from other DISers as well. I think most of us who post on the cruise forum tend to like DCL better.

 

[hollyberry16]

Thanks for the response!!

I guess that was sort of my question; what does disney include that the others don't (i know realize that there are tons of threads on this topic so for that i apologize! ) . I have been in love with disney products all my life, so I am assuming that it will be DCL for me...above others, but price is quite important too...

I also noticed that you're a DVC member! I love the concepts, and would love to find out more information about that - other then what the website provides. I find that i always have more questions - and living in canada, they won't send me information!

 

[stampinshauna]

Feel free to pm me with any questions that you have.

I got a ton of DVC info from this site. There are some great DVC forums on here and tons of helpful people. The FAQs are great too.

If you love Disney, I'd suggest trying out DCL. We always book the cheapest cabin because we don't spend much time in the room and it allows us to cruise more often. That way it really isn't much more than other cruise lines. We also save money by booking a cruise in the cheaper times of the year. DCL's cheapest cabins are bigger than other cruise line's cheap cabins. They all have a couch and a bathtub, which on Princess you only get in a suite & mini-suite. We book category 12 guarantees which mean DCL can put us wherever they want. We ended up in a Category 11 one time and a Category 9 (oceanview) the next. We also use our Disney Visa rewards to pay for tips and part of the shore excursions. We generally dine on the ship, even when in port, so that we don't pay for meals on shore. We've actually found that we can cruise on DCL cheaper than a lot of other land vacations since food and a lot of entertainment is included. Now we are hooked!!!

 

[cjsmith]

One thing I did want to point out from the other review is that Princess also has a private island just like Castaway Cay. When cruising Alaska there will never be a stop at a private island no matter what line you are on!

Yes, soda is free on Disney, but technically it has been paid for in the higher fare. There is free ice cream for an hour a day plus at all meals with Princess. Again , the ice cream has been paid for in the higher fare.

Not all staterooms have a tub or split bathroom on DCL, cat 11 and 12's don't though they do have the sofa. You can get a mini-suite on Princess for the same price as a balcony on DCL and it will have a larger bathroom with full tub, much larger stateroom, 2 tv's and a huge balcony with 2 lounge type chairs and a table with 2 chairs on it.

As for entertainment, that is subjective. All of Disney's shows are geared towards children and families with the exception of the parties that go on in wavebands at night and those start after 10:00 PM and usually more toward 10:45.

Here is a price comparison. Over spring break I priced out both DCL and Princess for my family of 5 during a Caribbean cruise. On DCL it was for a Cat 6 and a Cat 11 and that came out to $9600. On Princess for a full suite, yes full suite and an inside the price was $6200! Not only was the full suite incredibly huge and the balcony was to die for, (DCL's suite balonies are no where near the size) but I also got full meals in the cabins, free internet, priority boarding and disembarkation with priority tender tickets, free dry cleaning and laundry, flowers, full bar set up. pictures and the like. I could have bought a lot of free soda and ice cream for $3400!

Both lines are great, both lines have their pluses and minuses. I don't think you could go wrong with chosing either.

 

[awatt]

You will find lots of helpful info on various cruise lines at cruisecritic.com

 

[stampinshauna]

Not all staterooms have a tub or split bathroom on DCL, cat 11 and 12's don't though they do have the sofa.

Although the cat 11 & 12s don't have a split bath, they do have a tub. Princess did not have a split bath.

awatt had a great suggestion--cruisecritic.com. They have a lot of info about all sorts of cruise lines. No matter what you choose, enjoy your cruise!!!

 

[ricka47]

We've been on RCI 4 times, and once each on DCL, HAL, Princess and Celebrity. If we didn't get the Florida resident discounts, we would not be sailing DCL very often.

Probably our biggest complaint was the food which, while certainly not bad, was usually bland and just OK. We had no "wow" meals except at Palo's. That was the only meal that we left saying, "that was great!" Celebrity is our favorite for food and service.

It's up to the individual if they want to pay all the extra money for the Disney magic. I think that it is worth it at the parks and Disney lives up to its reputation there. But, the price to value comparision just doesn't work on DCL. For the money, there is much greater value elsewhere. Get the magic at the parks and sail with another line where your dollar goes much further.

But, as many have countered here, how much are you willing to pay to have your child be surrounded by characters and all of the other Disney ambience? Too many, they will live with average food if Mickey is on the ship.

My daughter is now 13 and would rather sail Celebrity. We would love to take our five-year old grandaugher on DCL. We've taken her to Disney World twice and it was worth every penny.